The Holistic Approach to Health
Written by Catherine N. Komir, Certified Holistic Health Practitioner
The holistic health approach focuses on how the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the body are interconnected to maintain wellness. Although a holistic approach takes disease into account, it focuses primarily on clarity of intentions, development of well-being, and enjoyment of life in a system of self-responsibility.
In the holistic approach, emphasis is placed on re-connecting to the areas of life in which the person may be out of balance. Natural approaches that incorporate the body-mind-spirit connection are used to facilitate healing. For instance, connecting with the body may reveal the need for new exercise patterns, nutritional counseling, or getting more fresh air and sunshine. It is important to take into consideration all aspects of the self, including our relationships, creativity, environment, and work.
Disease (or dis-ease) is looked upon as a message from the body, mind, and spirit. There is always meaning in our discomfort, but we must be willing to be open to the message. For example, if someone were suffering from headaches, exploring the cause would be the first step in healing. Stress due to work overload or relationship issues could be among the possible causes of this illness. Healing would require making adjustments in one’s life and incorporating relaxation and breathing techniques.
Research done in the area of psychoneuroimmunology (also known as PNI) by Dr. Candace Pert, Professor of Biophysics and Physiology at Georgetown University School of Medicine, has revealed significant relationships in the body, mind, and spirit connection. Molecules related to thought and emotion that were once thought to exist only in the brain, have been discovered to be located throughout the body, including the heart and stomach. That “gut feeling” that we get at times is an example of how the body-mind connection works. A face that blushes in embarrassment is another example of how thought manifests physically in the body.
There is no doubt that our thought becomes our biology. Stress and negative thought patterns can trigger high blood pressure and decreased oxygen intake, instigating the disease process. When taking a holistic approach to health, you become aware of the thought patterns and core beliefs that you hold which may not
be serving and supporting your total health. Cognitive restructuring (changing the way you think in a more positive, self-serving approach), practicing forgiveness (crucial for releasing blocked negative energy in the body, mind, and spirit), and stress reduction through breathing exercises are a sample of routes taken to wellness.
Guided imagery is a simple relaxation technique in which one uses the imagination to access and discover hidden meaning and messages the body is manifesting through discomfort. Researchers have known for years that images can trigger physiological changes in the mind and body. Your brain can respond just as strongly to an image you are imagining as it does to an image you actually see. This is why visualizing that you are sitting by a serene pond with warm sunlight upon your face has been shown to lower heart rate, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Dr. Howard Hall of Penn State University has conducted studies showing how the immune system was strengthened when patients imagined their white blood cells to be strong and powerful sharks. Many treatment facilities are now using this natural and effective healing technique, including cancer treatment centers across the United States and the cardiac intensive care unit at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. Blue Shield Insurance offers a “pre-surgical guided imagery program” on compact disk. People feel better and heal faster when using guided imagery, which saves money. In a study conducted by Blue Shield of California, women who had had hysterectomies reduced their insurance claims by an average of $654.00 when using guided imagery to facilitate healing.
As Deepak Chopra, M.D. and noted author, attests, mind-body medicine is based on the fact that wherever a thought goes, a chemical goes with it. This explains why the chronically depressed are four times more likely to become ill. Distressed mental states get converted into biochemicals that create disease, showing the importance of our thoughts and emotions on our health and wellness. When one aspect is out of balance, it creates an imbalance throughout the whole system. Learning to “re-connect” is important in maintaining wellness.
If we seek quality of life, there are practices which may be incorporated into our daily lives that will guide us to a more balanced state of health and wellness. The path to wellness includes the following:
1. Taking responsibility for feelings, thoughts, and actions,
2. Practicing silence each day,
3. Sleeping as close to the daylight and darkness cycle as possible,
4. Eating whole, fresh, unprocessed food as often as possible,
5. Drinking plenty of pure water each day,
6. Being aware of emotions and allowing yourself to feel,
7. Connecting with others, practicing loving kindness and forgiveness,
8. Deeply breathing in fresh air and sunlight,
9. Moving the body in a form of exercise that is enjoyable,
10. Playing and being childlike, expressing creativity and humor.
If you are interested in learning more about the holistic approach to health and how it may complement your current health care plan, please call
Catherine at 814-643-4345. The above mentioned techniques are facilitated during holistic health practitioner services.
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.